Text: Pavel Shubsky

The fate of the inhabitants of Vladivostok is to travel to Asian countries. For those who are thinking about where to go this year, Vl3000 continues to talk about cities and countries where we spent a lot of time ourselves.

In the third issue, photographer and copywriter Pavel Shubsky talks about the most advanced Chinese metropolis of Shanghai and answers important questions that concern any traveler: how to get from the airport at night, where to eat the most delicious shawarma in the world, why you shouldn’t talk to random Chinese women on the embankment, why Chinese clubs pour foreigners for free and much more.

Shanghai, spread over an area of ​​6,340 square kilometers, is home to over 23 million people. In fact, these figures have no sacred meaning - all city life and points of interest are concentrated in a small central area, historical center entitled Puxi and, to a lesser extent, in the new business center pudong. Beyond them - a deaf, unremarkable Chinese province, plants and factories, communist five-story buildings and cattle.

I would like to clarify one thing: Shanghai is not about culture and historical values. Shanghai is about new China where all the most beautiful is combined with the most terrible, where money is considered the main happiness in life, where there is no place for centuries-old folk wisdom, where another glass skyscraper no longer has any logical explanation, where everything is mixed up once and for all. The metropolis has developed from a small port village in just 20 years, having lost all its charm and English-language street names in the process of restructuring. No Great Walls, ancient temples, imperial palaces. Shanghai is a food city, ladyknight city, skyscraper city, formula 1 city, concert city. If all of the above appeals to you, then we ask you to visit.

How to get there

There is no direct flight Vladivostok - Shanghai, so tourists will have to make at least one change in any case. The most affordable, adequate in time and proven way is to fly to Beijing on S7 aircraft (8000-9000 rubles one way), then transfer to Chinese airlines, which will deliver directly to your destination (650 yuan one way). You can book a ticket online on the website ctrip.com, they take a minimum commission and do not cheat.

Pudong International Airport, photo by Yuya Sekiguchi

Shanghai has two airports - warm lamp hongqiao and new glossy . It is worth choosing the first one. It is located within the city, so a taxi ride to the hotel will cost 60-70 yuan or 4 yuan and not too long on the subway. In the case of PVG, there are several ways to get to the city: by taxi for 150-250 yuan, depending on the time of day, for a very long time by subway for a penny, for a very long time by bus for a penny.

Maglev, photo Roving I

There is another way - transport system based on the principle of magnetic levitation. Short 4-car trains fly along it at a speed of 430 kilometers per hour and deliver to a sane location, from where you can leave either by metro or by taxi. Alas, Maglev does not work around the clock. In case you arrived at night, there is only one option left: a taxi. You can negotiate with the driver for the required amount (say, 170-200 yuan), but of course they do not speak English.

Train to Shanghai, photo by doevos

An alternative and, in general, even more pleasant option is to travel from Beijing on a comfortable high-speed train (550 yuan one way). Tickets can be bought directly at the airport. All that remains is to get to the South Station, find the right exit to the platform, go to the soft reclining chair and for five hours enjoy the views of the endless construction site with rare patches of greenery. The train from Beijing delivers to all the same Hongqiao.

Where to settle

How to get around

Shanghai has the longest subway in the world. Inside is clean, comfortable, almost does not stink, warm in winter and cool in summer. Trips to any distance cost 3-4 yuan. On nice new trains you can quickly get to any chosen point. Shanghai metro map

If you don’t feel like pushing in the cars, you can catch a taxi on the street. Boarding costs 14 yuan during the day and 18 yuan at night. Next - by mileage. As practice shows, the average trip to the desired distance within the city costs 30 yuan. It is important to understand that Chinese drivers do not speak any language other than two or three varieties of Chinese. They do not know and do not want to know what People's Square, Marriott City Center or Panda Hostel. The only salvation is a piece of paper or a smartphone screen with an address in hieroglyphs. You can get any instructions on the website. smartshanghai.com, it contains the addresses of all the establishments, attractions and hotels you need (installing the application of the same name for iOS and Android is your first step before the trip).

Taxi, photo by Dengyoh

A note about taxis. The city has several public taxi companies, as well as many private companies. All state cars are light colors. Green, blue, yellow, white. Their services can and should be used. There are also burgundy, private ones. It is with them that unpleasant stories are most often associated: the meter was spinning like crazy, the driver demanded something, he was driving too fast, and so on. Don't get into burgundy cabs with tinted windows unnecessarily.

No metropolis is complete without bus service and Shanghai is no exception. However, use municipal buses here you can only if your smartphone can plot accurate routes and tell you which stop to get off at ( google maps Maps can). Otherwise, it will not work to understand the intricacies. And keep in mind that Chinese buses are driven, it seems, exclusively by racers who really wanted to, but did not break into professional sports - they “fly” along conditionally allocated lanes, not paying any attention to the cars around them. Case in point: Chinese pedestrians, who don't usually think about traffic lights and the number of highway lanes, never start to cross in front of a bus. And you shouldn't.

where to go

French Concession, photo by arlyna

It was said about traditional Chinese cultural and historical values ​​at the beginning, but there are still many interesting things in the city. For example, the old French Quarter, French Concession- many narrow streets with authentic two-story houses, where foreign settlers and merchants lived until the middle of the 20th century. The quarter has been rebuilt many times, but still retains its European charm and is considered a popular Shanghai attraction. Getting to the French Concession is as easy as shelling pears: just come to the station of the 1st metro line Hengshan lu and go deeper into the alleys. It is better to plan a trip during the day - by the evening the area is dying out.

Embankment Bund

However, the main city attraction is the embankment. Bund with neoclassical colonial architecture from the most famous architects of the past. The spirit of the old school hovers here, and from the shore there is a stunning view of the skyscrapers of the financial center, the same signature view from Shanghai postcards and Google search results. Absolutely obligatory point. To get to the Bund, just come to the station East Nanjing Lu 2nd metro line, and then follow the signs through the neon-lit promenade street. But be careful. Numerous scammers operate in this tourist area. For example, cute Chinese girls who get to know each other themselves and then offer to go to a classic tea ceremony with them. The price for such pleasure will be more impressive than you expect.

The glamorous splendor of the Bund, where all the most expensive restaurants and clubs of the city work, dilutes the poverty of the slums located just south and west of the neoclassical monuments. Creepy in appearance, but kind inside, the quarters of low houses, assembled from improvised materials, will offer the most authentic species - fish and meat hanging right on the windowsills, shops of street greenery vendors, pens with chickens for slaughter, seafood displays. Don't miss the butcher cutting the carcass right in the middle of a busy street.

Lujiazui, photo by Topster*

Further, it makes sense to take a ferry for 2 yuan and cross the river Huangpu, to the skyscrapers. It's good to walk there in warm weather, except that the neck quickly gets tired from trying to make out the tops of buildings. By the way, the ensemble of skyscrapers will soon complement Shanghai Tower- 632-meter spiral, an ode to the never-ending international competition for the title of the tallest building in the world. However, the new skyscraper will still not beat the Arab Burj Khalifa.

Note to tourists, on the upper floors of all skyscrapers there are viewing platforms from which views of the endless city open. The rise costs 150-200 yuan, which, by the way, is great for coffee and cake or a glass of wine in hotel restaurants and bars located just a few floors below.

Contemporary art lovers should visit at least three art zones - M50, and Minsheng Sculpture Space. The first contains galleries and artists' shops, several exhibition halls, where unusual exhibitions are often held. The second is an old power plant converted into art (all Russian-speaking citizens are surprised why it says "Energetic Palace of Culture"). The third is a separate cluster with sculptures. But keep in mind, all the listed areas close at 5 pm, like any government facilities in China.

Finally, we can recommend beautiful town on the water, located far from the center, but still within Shanghai. The place is called , and the best way to get there is by sightseeing buses from one of the stadiums Hongkou Football Stadium or Shanghai Indoor Stadium from where the tour buses leave.

Where to eat

Xiaolongbao, photo by weizor

When you go to China, eat Chinese food. Confident travelers will say. Residents of Vladivostok, who have seen more or less real Chinese cuisine, however, will be upset. It will be problematic to find dishes popular on Sportivka. Southern customs are quite different. The signature dishes of Shanghai eateries are steamed Xiaolongbao meat buns, Hundun dumplings floating in soup, all kinds of noodles with gravy. All this is quite edible and tasty, but at one time.

However, in Shanghai it is not at all necessary to eat exclusively local food. The international character of the city attracts restaurateurs from all over the world. Here you can find Italian pizzerias, where an elderly Italian fries pizza in the oven right in the middle of the hall, American burgers with excellent chopped cutlets, French bistros with homemade baguettes and croissants, Canadian cafes with eggs Benedict and German breweries with sausages and sauerkraut.

Wagas

The list of recommendations can be stretched - they are not shy about filling the stomach with curiosities from all over the world. Guests of the city simply need to try huge fresh salads and creative pastas at Wagas and Element Fresh branches, amazingly beautiful and juicy burgers at Beef & Liberty, excellent French cold appetizers at Cuivre, classic cheese pizza and ravioli at Nolita, boiled Belgian mussels with potatoes and sauces at Belga, one of Boxing Cat's seven homemade beers. And don't forget the shawarma! The world's best shawarma (doner kebab) is made in the Turkish restaurant Anadolu. What's even better is that the place stays open until late.

After tasting Western delicacies, you can return back to China - street vendors fry excellent skewers of meat or vegetables, knead excellent noodles with chicken. In street restaurants, depending on the season, you can order crayfish - creatures with huge heads and a small body resemble shrimp, but without a salty aftertaste. They are fried in oil, generously sprinkled with pepper and served with transparent disposable gloves - very greasy. A roll of toilet paper, which will be placed nearby, serves as hand wipes.

They say, "did not eat street food - was not in China." Yes, it is much inferior to, say, Thai counterparts, but you still need to try.

Where to have fun

Shanghai - real paradise for the visiting party goer. Here you can find music and an institution for every taste. From hits from the 80s and house remixes of Rihanna in beautiful clubs on the top floors of old buildings to uk bass and hard techno in filthy basements without lighting.

The evening begins somewhere in the bar with their endless buy-one-glass-get-the-second-free deals and spontaneous dances at the bar counter. Then, closer to midnight, the whole company begins to smoothly flow into the clubs of your choice. Somewhere a fashionable French producer is brought in, somewhere jazz is playing, somewhere rockers are jumping, somewhere local DJs turn on old and new hip-hop, somewhere they swing to the beat of tech house.

Yongkang-lu

Start the night with bar hopping on the street of bars Yongkang Lu and try to dodge the flow of water from the basins of angry neighbors from the second floor. Continue among the French and inexpensive wine at one of the Le Cafe des Stagiaires. Stop by the Shiva Lounge for another White Russian. Descend into the legendary The Shelter to the sound of drum and bass. Finish the fun in the morning somewhere in the Amber Lounge with its well-known after-parties throughout the city.

However, the glamorous evening begins differently: dinner at Dr. Wine, cocktails and shisha at Barbarossa, then a taxi to Bar Rouge with its views of skyscrapers, a crowd of dressed up girls and bank employees in suits.

Fans of Chinese aesthetics, in turn, go to completely different clubs - eternally crowded local hangouts for wealthy owners of handkerchief factories. M2, S2, Muse, Myst, Maya. There you can meet a foreign promoter who will offer to go to his table with free alcohol, join, and then crawl away on all fours - such clubs love it when drunk foreigners fall face down on the table for the amusement of the local sugar daddy and their young companions, and pour fake alcohol .

All of the listed establishments are easily located through SmartShanghai.

shopping

Due to the rapid growth of the Chinese economy, the introduction of new taxes on everything that is possible (and especially on foreign products, even if they are produced somewhere nearby), the price tags for clothes and accessories in Shanghai have already exceeded all allowable values. Moreover, much can be bought cheaper in Russia or via the Internet. But it would be foolish not to enter one of the giant malls with all the brands in the world.

There are large shopping centers in any area of ​​the city, but the most popular ones are located closer to the central part or in the very epicenter of city life. Everyone's favorites include the Super Brand Mall at the foot of the skyscrapers on Lujiazui, as well as Raffles City on People's Square and the newest monster IAPM with fashion boutiques at the intersection of Shaanxi Nan Lu and Huaihai Zhong Lu. Both, in addition to shops, accommodate all kinds of restaurants, cafes, bars and IMAX cinemas.

Those who want to buy something not quite real at a low price should go to the station of the 2nd metro line Shanghai Science and Technology Museum. Immediately upon exiting the subway, you will be greeted by the familiar atmosphere of Suifenhe with merchants who speak all languages ​​at the same time. Here you need to bargain hard: what is offered for 500 yuan can be bought for 80. Among the assortment you can easily find everything you need - T-shirts and sweaters, watches, hats, fur coats, boots, bags, as well as any souvenirs for friends. It is better to go to the closing, when the traders are already tired and do not want to bend their line.

Another popular tourist destination is Dongtai Lu Antique Street. There you can rent a real old chest or a classic Chinese sofa, antique toys and other little things for next to nothing. But be prepared for the fact that a family of cockroaches lives in one of the boxes of your antique souvenir.

Shanghai is a real pearl of the East!

Shanghai – seaport, divided into two parts by the Huangpu River, a tributary of the Yangtze River.

The hallmark of Shanghai is a view of the Bund of the Bund.

Today Shanghai ultra-modern, the most dynamic city of the most dynamically developing nation.

What to see in Shanghai

The Huangpu River divides Shanghai into two parts: on the Old city and new, ultra-modern pudong/ Pudong.

In the old part of the city there is a famous embankment Bund / Bund, along which it is pleasant to walk both during the day and in the evening, admiring the opposite side of the river. Her second name quay vaitan.

waterfront waitan It is especially beautiful in the evening, when colorful lights are lit in the city. We recommend an evening cruise on the Huangpu River.

Nankinlu street- is the central pedestrian street of the city. It has famous shops, shopping centers, cafes and restaurants.

french quarter- this is the territory occupied by the French concession in the 20-30s. This quarter was almost entirely populated by white emigrants. Many buildings of that era still remain in the quarter.

Russians made up a third of the foreign population of Shanghai during these years. They worked as tailors, driving instructors, bodyguards, and set up numerous cafes around Huaihail. Cafes and ateliers are still clustered in the city around this street, many buildings have been preserved from the 30s.

Yuyuan garden. One of the most famous places Shanghai is considered the Yuyuan Garden of Joy, founded in the 16th century during the Ming Dynasty.

The garden occupies a vast territory, on which artificial lakes and islands, shady pavilions and pavilions, beautiful bridges and hills are built.

Currently The Garden of Joy is one of the ten most beautiful gardens in the world.. A huge number of flowers grow in the Garden, magnolias, gingos and other age-old trees grow.

YuYuan Garden was built in the 16th century during the Ming Dynasty by order of the court minister's son Pan Yunduan, who presented it as a gift to his father Pan En. The son wanted to give his father a garden in the likeness of the imperial garden in Beijing.

But constant monetary problems with finances did not allow Pan Yunduan to quickly complete the construction. As a result, the garden was completed only 20 years later, but Yunduan's father did not live to this moment.

The owner himself went bankrupt at this point, and he had to sell the garden for a nominal fee.

During the Opium War, the garden was destroyed by the French. Yuyuan Garden acquired its modern look after restoration and restoration in 1956.

Jade Buddha Temple was built in 1911 - 1918. In the Temple there is a two-meter statue of Buddha made of white jade. The walls of the temple are decorated with 7 thousand Buddhist sutras.

hongkou park / Luxin located in northern Shanghai. As a tourist attraction, it is known for the tomb of the founder of modern Chinese literature, the writer and scholar Lu Xun.

He was not a communist, but most of his books were banned by the Kuomintang regime and he hid in the French Quarter.

Lu Xun's message to the Chinese youth of the 1930s is now known to the whole world.

The message says: "Think and study the economic problems of society, go through hundreds of dead villages, come to the generals, and then come to the victims, know the realities of your time with wide eyes and a clear mind, and work for an enlightened society, but always think, think and study".

TV tower "Pearl of the East" was built in 1994, the height of the TV tower is 468 m. It is the highest TV tower in Asia and the third highest in the world. Today, the TV tower "Pearl of the East" has already become a real symbol of Shanghai.

Temples of Shanghai

In the southern part of Shanghai is the ancient Buddhist temple Longhua. The time of its construction dates back to the period of the Three Kingdoms. Longhua Pagoda is one of the most popular places in Shanghai. Its height is 40 meters, the pagoda has seven floors.

The Temple of Confucius is a famous shrine in Shanghai built during the Yuan Dynasty.

St. Ignatius Cathedral is a temple designed by the English architect William Doyle between 1905 and 1910.

Zoo with pandas

China's symbol, the panda, can be seen at the Shanghai Zoo. The animal habitats here are as close as possible to natural conditions.

You can see the animals while driving in a closed bus or car.

How to get to Shanghai

Airplane. Getting to Shanghai is very easy: the city has an international airport that receives flights from Russia, from other countries of the world, and of course other cities in China.

Here is a complete guide to Shanghai for 2019, in which you will find a description of more than 20 attractions in Shanghai. You will also learn how to get from Shanghai airport to the city, whether you need a visa on arrival to Shanghai, which hotel to stay in, what the weather is like throughout the year, what transport to use when seeing the sights of Shanghai and whether there is beach holiday. It should be clarified that not all of the places described were visited personally, however, I tried to tell in as much detail as possible about all the interesting places in the city and how to get to them. The main guide covering all of China, .

On the interactive map shows all the sights of Shanghai from the review. Please note that in the description of each marker there is information about prices, schedules and tips on how to get to the place.

Shanghai attractions on the map

Sights of Shanghai

Starting a review of the sights of Shanghai, first let's talk about those located in the Pudong area. These sights, if desired, can be bypassed very quickly. If you're only in Shanghai for a few hours or a day, this is probably the best place to start exploring the city.

List of attractions in Shanghai:

Oriental Pearl TV Tower

Speaking about the sights of Shanghai, it is worth starting with one of its symbols - the Oriental Pearl television tower. With a height of almost 500 meters, it ranks fifth in the world among other TV towers. A feature of the "Oriental Pearl" is a restaurant rotating in a circle, located in a spherical room of the tower. Even if you do not plan to visit the TV tower, do not miss the moment when the backlight turns on in the evening and the building begins to play with colorful lights. This spectacle leaves few indifferent.

Opening hours and cost: daily from 8.00 to 21.30. Tickets cost from 130 yuan to 220, depending on the choice of the observation deck.

Shanghai Tower

This is the only skyscraper in Shanghai that I have personally visited. I highly recommend you go up and take a look at it with your own eyes. a beautiful city from a height of 546 meters. By the way, on observation platform super high-speed elevator will take you in just 10 seconds. Most importantly, take your passport with you, without it the ticket will not be sold.

How to get there: Lujiazui station (Line 2).

Opening hours and cost: daily from 8.00 to 22.30 (the box office is open until 22.00). Tickets cost 180 yuan for an adult, 120 for students (not older than 23 years), 90 for children and for pensioners (pensioners - over 60). Must have a passport.

Shanghai World Financial Center

One of the most famous skyscrapers in the world, the Shanghai World Financial Center, is located in the Pudong area. This majestic building can be admired both from the ground and from one of the viewing platforms located directly in the building of the center. In the evening, the building is illuminated with lights and photography lovers will have a place to turn around.

How to get there: Lujiazui metro station (Line 2).

Opening hours and prices: open from 8.30 to 22:00. The ticket price is from 100 to 150 yuan, depending on the chosen observation deck.

Shanghai Oceanarium (Shanghai Ocean Aquarium)

The largest oceanarium in Asia, Shanghai attracts thousands of visitors every year. Here you will find more than 10,000 representatives of marine nature from various climatic zones of our planet.

Opening hours and cost: the aquarium is open from 9.00 to 18.00 (the box office closes at 17.30). Ticket for an adult is 160 yuan, for children 110, for pensioners 90.

Shanghai Municipal History Museum

Perhaps the most interesting and informative museum in Shanghai. The museum staff tried to recreate the historical scenes of bygone times, and they succeeded admirably.

How to get there: Lujiazui station (line 2).

Schedule and prices: daily from 9.00 to 17.30, 35 yuan.

Skyscraper Jinmao (Jin Mao Tower)

Another place for connoisseurs of panoramic views. Along with the Shanghai World Financial Center, the Jinmao skyscraper is one of the symbols of Shanghai and one of the main attractions. Climb up to the observation deck located on the 88th floor and enjoy the stunning views of Shanghai at night.

How to get there: Lujiazui station (Line 2).

Opening hours and cost: every day from 8.30 to 22.00. Ticket for adults 120 yuan, for children 60 yuan.

Lu Jia Zui Pedestrian Bridge

A masterpiece of architectural thought, the Lujiazui Bridge has adorned Shanghai for only six years. Walking around Pudong, do not apply to visit and take pictures of it.

How to get there: Lujiazui station (Line 2).

Undoubtedly one of the most famous attractions of Shanghai. The embankment is located on the other side of the river from the Pudong area. Here you will find not only numerous tourists, but also fully enjoy the beautiful old architecture of Shanghai. The city authorities are trying not to distort the area with modern buildings, which allows even today to find in this historical place pieces of old Shanghai. It is worth visiting this place both in the daytime and at night, when the Bund of Vaitan is illuminated by many lights.

How to get there: East Nanjing Rd (Line 2 / Line 10 junction)

Museum of Jewish Refugees (Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum)

During the difficult times of the Second World War, many Jews were forced to immigrate in all directions. Shanghai has become a haven for many thousands of refugees. Expositions of the Museum of Jewish Refugees in Shanghai will tell us about those difficult times.

How to get there: Tilanqiao (line 12).

Schedule and prices: daily from 9.00 to 17.00, 50 yuan.

Shanghai Postal Museum

Another interesting museum, which tells about how the people of China contacted each other before the advent of trains, planes and the Internet.

How to get there: Tiantong Road (intersection of lines 10 and 12).

Schedule and prices: open on weekends, as well as on Wednesday and Thursday. The entrance is free.

Shanghai attractions. Yu Yuan Garden

Almost 500 years ago, the beautiful Yu Yuan Garden was created, which still delights the eyes of guests and residents of Shanghai. Divided into seven themed areas, the garden will great place for a walk. Don't miss the opportunity to see and enjoy this beautiful sight with your own eyes when you are in Shanghai.

How to get there: Yuyuan Garden (Line 10).

Opening hours and cost: from 8.30 to 17.00, 40 yuan.

Shanghai old town

Gardens, markets, elements of the architecture of old Shanghai, all this can be found here. Spending some time exploring the streets of the old town will be an enjoyable experience. Shanghai Old City is located near the Yu Yuan Garden, in the area of ​​Zhonghua Road and Renmin Road.

Find: Yuyuan Garden (Line 10)

Temple of Confucius (Shang Hai Wen Miao)

If you love and revere Confucius or are just interested in beautiful temples, don't miss the Confucius Temple in Shanghai. To everyone who wishes, the servants of the temple are ready to demonstrate the traditional tea ceremony.

How to get there: Laoximen (intersection of lines 10 and 8).

Schedule and prices: from 9.00 to 16.30, 10 yuan.

Nanjing Road

Paradise for shopaholics. Hundreds of boutiques, big and small. Here you will find the most fashionable and expensive things, you can dine in one of the hundreds of cafes and restaurants, just feel like a resident of a huge metropolis. Evening is no less interesting. Street musicians and neon lights of houses change this place beyond recognition.

Find: People's Square (intersection of metro lines 1, 2, 8)

People's Square (People's Square)

On the site of the former hippodrome, the city authorities decided to create a people's square, which is also not deprived of the attention of tourists. The area is especially beautiful in spring and autumn, when you can walk in the parks located here and enjoy the calming nature.

Find: People's Square (intersection of lines 1, 2, 8)

French Quarter (French Concession)

If you love French culture, the French Quarter is for you. Even today, buildings can be found here that received numerous immigrants in the first half of the 20th century.

Find: South Shaanxi Road (Metro Line 10).

Jade Buddha Temple

Founded in the 19th century, the Jade Buddha Temple may seem interesting to many. Buddha sculptures brought from Burma at one time, as well as several indoor halls, will help you learn a little more about the history of Asia.

Find: Changshou Road (intersection of lines 7, 13)

Schedule and prices: every day from 8.00 to 20.00, ticket price is 20 yuan.

Shanghai attractions. Long Hua Pagoda

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to get into the pagoda itself, because of the fear of collapse, entering it is strictly prohibited. However, to admire the beautiful building from the side by visiting temple complex, is not allowed.

How to get there: Longhua (intersection of lines 11 and 12).

Schedule and prices: from 7.00 to 16.30, 10 yuan.

Shanghai Zoo

This zoo is not a zoo in the usual way. Instead of just putting animals in cages and displaying them to the public, special pavilions were created with favorable living conditions for animals. In the Shanghai Zoo you can see the symbol and pride of China - the panda.

Find: Shanghai Zoo (line 10).

Schedule and prices: in the winter months the zoo is open from 8.30 to 16.30, from March to November from 8.00 to 17.00. Adult ticket 130 yuan, children 65. Children under six years old are free.

Visa to Shanghai for Russians

As such, there is no visa to Shanghai, of course, but there are different options to see Shanghai. If you are planning a trip to China, it makes sense to take care of obtaining a tourist visa to China. Detailed article with up-to-date information on how to get a visa to China is issued separately.

In case you are flying through Shanghai in transit, you can use the 144 hour air transit rule in Shanghai. In this case, you can stay in Shanghai for no more than 144 hours, after which you must leave the country. In the case of air transit, you can leave the country only by plane, land or sea ​​views transport are excluded.

To Shanghai from the airport

The blog already has about the Shanghai airport, in which he described in detail all the nuances of arriving at the airport and how to get from the airport to the city. Routes from both Shanghai International Airports are shown.

Transport in Shanghai (metro, buses, ferries, taxis)

In a huge metropolis like Shanghai, ways to get around the city must be plentiful. Let's analyze the main modes of transport in Shanghai.

The cheapest and most often the most convenient way to see all the sights of Shanghai. The approximate cost of a journey in the Shanghai subway is from three to ten yuan, depending on the route. The operating time of the metro of each individual line varies, but on average, the operating hours Shanghai metro from 05.30 to 23.00. On the this moment, there are 14 different branches in Shanghai, below you can see the Shanghai metro map, and by clicking on the link you will be taken to the official website of the Shanghai metro.

"Shanghai Metro Map"

Buses

The city has a huge bus network. The vast majority of Shanghai attractions can be reached by subway and then walk. But there are places to which you have to go by bus. As a rule, bus fare is two yuan. If the bus long distance, the fare can reach up to five yuan.

Ferries

In the touristy and busy areas of the city, you can find ferry crossings. Swimming from shore to shore will usually cost 1-2 yuan. Ferries run frequently, the interval is 10-15 minutes.

Taxi

Taxi fares in Shanghai start at RMB 12 per landing. Further, 2 yuan for each kilometer traveled. At night, rates increase by 30%.

Shanghai Hotels

I decided to make a review of Shanghai hotels in a separate article. The choice of hotels in Shanghai is huge. There are budget hostels for 40-50 yuan per bed in a dormitory room, there are luxury 5-star hotels, and there is something in between. In a review article about Shanghai hotels, you will find specific examples for different price categories of hotels.

Weather in Shanghai

Seaside vacation Shanghai

I tried in vain to find at least some positive information about what a seaside vacation in Shanghai is like. People who live in Shanghai for a long time unanimously claim that there is no quality beach holiday in Shanghai. There are a huge number of Chinese on the beaches, it is dirty, and the quality of water in the coastal zone leaves much to be desired. If you are interested in a beach holiday in China, you may find useful a guide to Hainan Island, which was compiled based on my personal experience stay on a resort island.

How many people are in Shanghai

If you are wondering how many residents there are in Shanghai, it is not possible to get an exact answer. In Shanghai, in addition to officially registered residents, there are a lot of visitors and illegal immigrants. According to official figures, about 25 million people live in Shanghai and the surrounding area.

Now is the time in Shanghai

Shanghai time widget

To find out what time it is in Shanghai, use the special widget.

He will show exact time in Shanghai.

How do you remember Shanghai? Tell in the comments!!!

4.6666666666667 (9 voters. Vote and you!!!)

We are constantly finding something new - be it extraordinary beauty a street in a large metropolis or a cozy pastry shop around the corner in small town. We invite you to discover cities together. We share useful life hacks, interesting places, stories and crazy photos from different parts of the world. The second edition of The HSE guides "In the footsteps" from our authors, friends and readers

Author and traveler

, EP "Oriental Studies", 4 course

1. Preparing for the trip
2. 12 things to do in Shanghai
3. 12 places to visit in Shanghai
   Historical landmarks
   Modern landmarks
4. life hacks
5. Food and habitats
6. What to read before the trip?

Preparing for the trip

Shanghai is the largest and most multicultural city in China. Foreigners are hardly surprised here: the title of the largest financial center attracts expats from all over the world. Guests of this many-sided city can visit the past, present and future at the same time. The Huangpu River divides Shanghai into two parts: Puxi in the west - older areas with bits of European architecture - and Pudong in the east - a collection of skyscrapers and high-rise buildings of the city of the future.

Health

There are no mandatory vaccinations before traveling to China. Of course, you can turn on the paranoia mode and get vaccinated against all diseases found in the Celestial Empire. But, in general, this is not necessary. Shanghai - modern city: there is unsanitary conditions, you should not drink water from the tap, although the chances of picking up something unusually terrible are quite low. That is why most tourists neglect vaccinations, even on long trips. The most needed medicines can be antidiarrheal, cold and antiallergic drugs. The first - because of the specific Chinese food, spicy and oily, which is often cooked under dubious conditions. The second is due to high humidity, temperature changes (heavily air-conditioned rooms and heat outside) and large crowds, for example, in the subway. You can wear disposable medical masks, no one will even think that something is wrong with you - now this is a fashion trend. And the last drugs - because of the exotic fruits and plants around.

Visas

You can stay in Shanghai for 3 days without a visa, if you want more, you will have to tinker with the documents. There are several types of visas for foreigners in China. For tourist purposes, a visa category L is issued for one month. It can be issued directly at the consular department of the Chinese Embassy (cost - 3300 rubles), but an invitation from a person or organization in China can become a problem. Because of this, many refuse the idea of ​​independently issuing a tourist visa, shifting it to the shoulders of an intermediary organization (from 4,000 rubles and more).

How to get there

Between the cities of Russia and Shanghai there are a lot of direct flights of both Aeroflot (the preferred option) and Chinese airlines (not so comfortable planes and stupid troubles can appear out of nowhere). There are flights with transfers, but they are not always cheaper.

Shanghai has two international airports: Pudong and Hongjiao. You can get to the city center by metro (12 yuan), bus (long distance bus - 20 yuan) or taxi (180-240 yuan), but you can run into a scam, so you need to look for an official taxi and demand to turn on the meter. From Pudong there is also a high-speed Maglef train (40-50 yuan), which is very similar to our Aeroexpress.

Where to live

In Shanghai, you can find accommodation for every taste and budget: from world-famous hotels to tiny beds on the outskirts of the city with airbnb. The most comfortable area for a foreigner will be the area of ​​the old French concession, the real estate in which, of course, is the most expensive in the city, but it is here that Chinese tin is least of all. In addition, it is close to the center, where there are many cafes and restaurants, and most importantly - many people who speak English - they are either expats or Western-oriented Chinese.

Language

Not knowing Chinese can be a problem: most Chinese still do not speak English, and if they do, it is very bad and with a strong accent. If the costumed Chinese in Pudong still try to answer your question, then you should not count on any taxi drivers. If you do know Chinese, then be prepared for the fact that instead of all the "sh" sounds, the Shanghainese say "c", even if they are trying to pass off Mandarin, not the Shanghai dialect.

How to move around the city

Shanghai is about 6 times larger than Moscow, so getting around it takes quite a long time. The most convenient way, of course, is a taxi, although not the fastest. This kind public transport perfectly regulated by the government - all taxi services are official. The price for landing and the first three kilometers is 14-16 yuan, each additional kilometer is 3 yuan. From 23.00 - night rate, more expensive.

The drivers here are not at all guided by the metro map, it is useless for them to name the stations. You need to show them either the exact address or the name of the place in hieroglyphs.

Next is the subway. The price depends on the number of transfers and distance, from 2 yuan between neighboring stations to 18 yuan to the airport. There are signs in the subway in English, plus many subway stations are named after the sights located there. Cons of the metro: it closes early (at about 22.00), long intervals between trains and a huge number of people during peak hours. You can also travel by bus, but this is very problematic: you need to master Baidu maps (everything inside is in Chinese) with a huge number of routes, and the stops are very inconspicuous (a small sign), so it’s hard to find them. But this is the cheapest way - 2 yuan per trip.

Security

In general, Shanghai is quite safe for a foreigner at any time of the day. What you should really be afraid of is the theft of personal belongings. Do not leave bags anywhere, always fasten them, wear backpacks in the subway on your stomach, and not on your back (this is fashionable). But you should not be paranoid - now the police are better monitoring such things, and the caring Chinese will tell you if you haven’t closed your bag. Another danger is traffic.

Firstly, it is allowed to turn right at a red light, so even when walking along a pedestrian crossing on a green one, you need to make sure that a bus does not run over you at full speed (they are still reckless). Secondly, there are a lot of mopeds, sometimes there are special lanes for them, and they can also run red.

12 things to do in Shanghai

1. Walk along Nanjing Lu Pedestrian Street (南京路步行街) and walk to the Bund (外滩）

This ritual is recommended to be performed twice: in the afternoon and after sunset. Nanjinglu (sometimes Nanjinglu - the local Arbat, leads directly to the embankment. There are always a lot of people and cute trams that, for 5 yuan, will help save a little of your time and nerves. In the evening, neon signs light up, giving this place a special charm. From the embankment, which is also called The Bund, the famous panorama of the skyscrapers and the Pearl TV Tower opens （东方明珠）- business card cities.

2. Walk around footbridge in Lijiazui District（陆家嘴）

They filmed the film "Her" with Joaquin Phoenix. It is in this place that you can feel like in the city of the future, take a closer look at the skyscrapers and look into the only Taco bell in China with divine Mexican food.

3. Climb a skyscraper

The most beaten option is to climb the TV tower mentioned above (about 200 yuan) with a transparent floor, but it is not so high, plus you can’t see it yourself. More viewpoint is in the Opener Tower - Shanghai World Financial Center (上海环球金融中心). But a more interesting option is the numerous bars and restaurants in these same skyscrapers. For example, from the Huangpu side of the Le Royal Meridien Hotel on the 66th floor, there is 789 Nanjing Lu Bar + Lounge. And in Pudong in the same "Opener" on the 87th there is a bar, the name of which I forgot.

4. Visit Shanghai Disneyland (迪斯尼）

Visiting Disneyland is really worth the money (370-500 yuan per adult depending on the day of the week) because it is the largest of the 6 Disneylands, with the biggest castle and the cheapest entrance ticket. Getting to it is quite simple: there is a metro station of the same name. For convenience, there is an application on the phone with a map and waiting time for each attraction. The main thing is to have time to take fast passes to the steepest slides, and you are in a fairy tale.

5. Marvel at human potential at the Shanghai Circus（上海马戏城）

Animals are not tortured in the Chinese circus - only people perform in it, but their art does not leave anyone indifferent. The technique of sophisticated numbers, honed to the millimeter, more than once makes you hold your breath. Another nice bonus - you can take tickets of any price, this will not affect the impression in any way - the performance can be seen from anywhere in the hall.

Circus address: 上海市闸北区共和新路2266号. Tickets cost from 250 yuan and are sold at the box office nearby.

6. Feel like a superstar taking pictures with the Chinese

Guys in this country have a very different idea of ​​personal space and decorum, so don't be surprised if you're asked to pose for a picture together. strangers(especially on the Bund of Vaitan), not to mention the familiar Chinese. Or they will start doing it on the sly. Even in Shanghai, they are not fully accustomed to foreigners, especially blond and blue-eyed ones, and curiosities are usually photographed and stored in the phone’s memory ...

7. Buy in souvenirs in the country that produces all the souvenirs of the world

Many have probably seen the Chinese in Europe buying souvenirs made in the PRC - this Chinese phenomenon is almost inexplicable and is an occasion for giggles. In Shanghai, souvenirs will be sold in all tourist places, but the most interesting can be found near the Yu Yuan Garden, in the alleys of Tianzifang and in Shanghai Venice - Qibao (see the list of attractions)

8. Visit the world of consumer goods and fake

Everyone has probably heard that everything is very bad with copyright in China. Despite the efforts of the government, now and then you come across fakes of different quality and all sorts. You can evaluate the scale of the results of the Chinese conveyor in several markets in Shanghai. A cluster of Chinese fashion trends can be found at the exit of Tiantong Subway Station（天潼路, Qipu Lu Fashion & Accessories Market. Only the Chinese themselves and experienced expats go here, there are fewer fakes and more authentic Asian rags. For fakes (bags, belts, clothes, small appliances, etc.), you need to go to Yatai Xinyang Fashion and Gift Market, which is located right at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum station. If you want to admire or join especially sophisticated and accurate fakes, ask the sellers about the Secret room, they understand English very well here. It works from 9:00 to 17:30 Most importantly, do not forget to bargain - the price can be dropped by several dozen (!!!) times.

9. Try street food

Any. In the center with this is not crowded, tasteless and expensive, so you should go to some ordinary residential area. There, almost next to every metro station, for example, Shaokao skewers will be fried. At first, unsanitary conditions and cooking conditions can be frightening, but this problem is solved by the Chinese by adding a huge amount of pepper. You can ask without it - but this is not the same, and the risks are higher.

10. Eat right in the store

In Shanghai, small Family Mart stores and similar ones are very common: Kedi, All days and others. Ready-made food is sold there - sushi, food sets, baozi (steamed buns), right in these stores you can heat them up (yes, they also heat sushi) and eat them - there will be a table and chairs. This also has a special Shanghai charm - many locals do this. Don't forget to look out for local snacks with unusual flavors, such as lime or tomato flavored chips, and the main Chinese sweets - White Rabbit Candies (大白兔）

11. Drink Coco

Many have probably heard about bubble tea - tea with jelly balls. So, Coco is what it is, in all sorts of variations. My personal favorite is QQ牛奶茶 - in addition to the balls, there are also pieces of coconut. Very sweet (unless you ask for sugar-free), so it is addictive and addictive.

12. Enjoy nightlife in Shanghai

Shanghai is famous for its nightlife. The city has many nightclubs for every taste and budget. You will be very lucky if you know some kind of "club promoter" - these are very often different expats. He will tell you where and what parties are held on that day (and they are every day, even on Monday), and will tell you the password, thanks to which you can not only get into the club for free (more relevant for guys, girls always go freely), but also count on free drinks: whiskey and cola, vodka with juice, beer or champagne. But you should be careful - all this can be of poor quality, and it's easy to lose your head. "Where does this generosity come from?" -you ask. I report: a club in China is considered cool and trendy if there are many foreigners there, and free alcohol is a bait. The most pretentious institution is Bar Rouge overlooking the skyscrapers of Pudong. The prices there are appropriate, about 90 yuan for a cocktail.

Address: 上海黄浦区中山东一路18号外滩十八号7楼

Oh yeah, be prepared that most clubs have very small dance floors. The Chinese come there to drink and play dice.

12 places to visit in Shanghai

Let's start with places that will make you feel like you're in China. Let this impression be a little deceptive: there is really nothing ancient in Shanghai, but everything has been very beautifully restored.

Historical landmarks

1. Yu Yuan Garden and adjacent streets 豫园

The private Garden of Joy began to be built in the 16th century, but it was almost completely destroyed during the Opium Wars, and it was reconstructed only by 1956. The atmosphere inside is very peaceful, apart from the crowds of Chinese tourists. It is important that the garden is open only from 8:30 to 16:45. Entrance fee is 40 yuan, student fee is 20 yuan, get ready to prove that the HSE pass is it. Outside, there are many shopping streets with souvenirs of all stripes, but it is very difficult to bargain here, as the demand is too high. Located next to Yuyuan garden (豫园) subway station. Disclaimer: do not agree to a tea ceremony - this is the main scam in this area, for this ritual you will have to pay a very tidy sum, otherwise they will start threatening the police, and you will get very little pleasure.

2. Temple of Confucius 上海文庙

This temple was founded during the Yuan Dynasty, its history goes back about 700 years, it was destroyed several times, but in 1995 the Shanghai city administration carried out a major overhaul. Students come here to pray in order to do well in their exams. The place is also notable for the fact that there is a large book market nearby with calligraphy tools and an extensive assortment of cute stationery.

Address: 上海市黄浦区文庙路215号 , nearest subway: 老西门 （Laoximen)

3. Jinan Temple 静安寺

The Buddhist monastery complex is located in the very center of the city, in the already mentioned French Concession. Admission is 50 yuan, but rumor has it that it's free on the first day of the lunar calendar. Chinese Wikipedia reports that the temple was founded in 247, which means it has 1700 summer history. It was completely restored and opened in 1998. It is located at the station of the same name - Jingan Temple （静安寺）

4. Jade Buddha Temple 玉佛禅寺

Another Buddhist temple, which was founded in 1882. It is distinguished from others by two jade Buddha statues brought to Shanghai by sea from Burma. Statues in human growth, one weighs 3 tons. Impressive spectacle. Located at Anyuan rd, 170 (安远路170), also in Jinan District

5. Shanghai Venice - Qibao （七宝）

Around Shanghai there are several cities on the water, they are all very similar to each other, but this one is closest to the city center - about 18 kilometers, it can be reached by subway - blue line, Qibao station （七宝). There are many streets with Chinese food, a lot of souvenirs and clothes. There may be a lot of people on weekends, but that's ok.

6. Streets of Tianjifang (田子坊）

Here you can take a closer look at what is called Shanghai shikumen - two- or three-story houses that are built of wood and lined with gray bricks on the outside. The first such houses began to appear in the second half of the 19th century as a symbiosis of Chinese traditional architectural principles (a courtyard inside a house) and a European atmosphere. Shikumen, like the medieval Beijing hutongs, are built up close to each other (a labyrinth is obtained), but the brickwork and the shape of the roof, according to some, give the impression of English terraced houses. Now it is home to many Chinese boutiques, restaurants, bars and trinket shops. The exact address: 泰康路210弄. Nearest metro station: Dapuqiao(打浦桥).

7. Shanghai Museum 上海博物馆

Large Museum of Ancient Chinese Art. A special feature is a collection of ancient ceramics. Some of the exhibits date back to the Neolithic era. The architecture of the museum building - a round dome and a square base - symbolizes the ancient idea of ​​heaven (round) and earth (square). The museum has 5 floors and is very chilly - bring a sweater (I'm not joking). Located next to People's Square - People's square subway station（人民广场）.

Modern landmarks

And now the places are more modern, Shanghai is still trying to seem like a super-modernized metropolis.

1. Art zone M50

The haven of Shanghai hipsters. There is a lot of graffiti on the walls, modern art galleries (free to visit), fashion shops and expensive caffeine. It is located near the Temple of the Jade Buddha, towards the waterfront. Address: 上海市普陀区莫干山路50号M50创意园(莫干山路店)6号楼102, nearest metro station: Jiangning Road (江宁路)

2. Shanghai Aquarium 上海海洋水族馆

Located right next to the Pearl Tower. All living creatures are divided into regions in which they live (China, South America, Australia, Southeast Asia etc.), and to the depths. The coolest are jellyfish, they have a very beautiful backlight. Unfortunately, there is also often not overcrowded - especially in summer, due to the influx of schoolchildren, but that's how lucky. Works from 9 am to 6 pm. Address: 浦东新区陆家嘴环路1388号(近东方明珠), Subway Station: Lijiazui（陆家嘴）.

3. China Art Museum 中华艺术宫

It would be more correct to call it the "Museum of Contemporary Chinese Art." Works by contemporary artists hang there, albeit sometimes in traditional techniques. It is considered one of the largest museums in Asia, and it is really very huge - if you decide to go around all, then be prepared for your back to hurt. There are 6 floors and 27 exhibition halls, which, if you look closely, add up to the character 華 - Chinese.

Address: 上海市浦东新区上南路205号, nearest subway: China Art Museum (中华艺术宫)

4. Shanghai Zoo 上海动物园

Although it is located far from the city center, it provides a unique opportunity to see the big panda. Even though it was excluded from the list of endangered species, it has not ceased to be a rare animal. The 740 thousand square meter zoo is divided into 5 zones: primates, herbivores, carnivores, birds and amphibians. To get around everything, you need to arrive early (opening hours: from 7:30 to 17:00) Located right at the metro station of the same name Shanghai Zoo （上海动物园). There is also the 上海野生动物园 Wild Animal Park in Shanghai, which is even further from the center, but there the animals are in large enclosures, and some can be touched. Walk 20-30 minutes from Wild Animal Park Subway Station （野生动物园), full address: 上海市浦东新区宣桥镇南六公路178号. Despite the fact that the territory of this park is twice the size of the first one, there are fewer animals here, and one more thing - this may be important for especially impressionable ones - predators are sometimes fed with game. They can let a piglet or a goat into an enclosure with tigers ... I won’t explain what happens next

5. Pleasure Valley Amusement Park and 欢乐谷 Water Park

If you have an extra day, and in the case of the water park, all two, and for some reason you don’t want to go to Disneyland or have already been there, then you can go to Happy Valley, which is located quite far from the center. All in all, it's a decent amusement park with a few rollercoasters, but don't expect too much from it. Yes, the rides may not be as childish as in Disney, but the queues are still the same Chinese. Little life hack: come to the opening of the park and immediately go deeper, the main queues will be on the roller coaster right next to the entrance, but by the evening there will be no queues for them at all. The ticket costs 200 yuan for an adult. Working hours: weekdays 9:30 - 18:00, weekends 9:00 - 18:00. Address: 上海市松江区佘山旅游度假区林湖路888号, Subway Station: Sheshan （佘山), there are free shuttle buses from the subway.

life hacks

• If you are going for a short time, buy yuan in Russia. Why? Because going to the bank and changing dollars is a very long time. Be prepared to throw 1.5 hours out of your life. You need to take a passport, stand in line from grandmothers, they will scan documents, fill out a bunch of papers, show your unusual passport to the whole office, and giggle. Oh yes, banks are open until 4 o'clock, and also with a lunch break (the bank does not close, but there remains some one of the most sloppy Chinese). You can still withdraw from the card, but the exchange rate will be unprofitable, you will be charged a commission, and sometimes ATMs issue counterfeit banknotes. I haven't experienced it myself, but I've heard about it often.

Food and habitats

It will be a little strange, but I probably won’t be able to advise certain places with Chinese cuisine where you need to go specially, and now I will explain why.

Firstly, Shanghai is a huge city, and it would be stupid to go somewhere specially. Secondly, truly Chinese and at the same time delicious food should be sought in small, most often family eateries.

In pretentious restaurants it is incredibly expensive and not at all. The number of these eateries cannot be counted, the main thing to focus on is whether the locals eat there. If you see the queue - you go there, it’s definitely tasty there. Even if the place looks unattractive, it happens in 99% of cases. Most of these places have Chinese menus, so here is a list of dishes to try, and yes, they all have the same name:

• dumplings to choose from: 小笼包 (xiaolongbao) - steamed dumplings with the addition of ginger to the meat (we began to call them "meat in dough petals"). 馄饨 (huntun) are the so-called vottons - boiled dumplings with broth (optional) with various meat and vegetable fillings. 饺子（jiaozi） - fried dumplings.
• 宫保鸡丁（gōngbǎo jīdīng）-Gongbao chicken (Szechuan chicken dish with peanuts and chili)
• 鱼香肉丝（yúxiāng ròusī） - the so-called "fish-flavored meat" - pork in fish sauce (fried, julienned pork in garlic and hot pepper sauce, Chinese cuisine)
• 糖醋里脊 (tángcù lǐji) - pork in sweet and sour sauce
• 菠萝古老肉 (bōluó gǔlǎoròu) - also pork in sweet and sour sauce, but with pineapple
• 麻婆豆腐 (má pó dòufǔ) - Sichuan-style mapo tofu spicy bean curd (fried, with ground pork or beef and pepper, in spicy sauce)

Another indicator of quality and safety can be a blue sign with emoticons next to the entrance - this is the assessment of the sanitary and epidemiological station. Red smiley - everything is bad, run away from there, yellow - real delicious Chinese food, green smiley - everything is perfectly clean, but I saw it only in large chain establishments, so I will give them as an example, however, not all of them will be Chinese.

Xiao Mei Yuan（小梅园）

The only Chinese place that will always remain in my heart. Chain cafe, there are 10 of them in Shanghai, there is even one next to People's Square. The average check is 20-40 yuan.

Xiabuxiabu(呷哺呷哺）

Here you can try the so-called "Chinese samovar", in English Hotpot, in Chinese Huoguo. There, such a saucepan is built into the table, it heats itself up, water is poured into it, ingredients are ordered and cooked, holding them with chopsticks. Here is such an exotic. The price directly depends on your appetite, it is worth going with a big company.

Ajisen Ramen, (Ajisen Ramen 味千拉面)

If you want insanely delicious Japanese udon, then you should go here, there are a lot of them and they are located at almost every metro station. My love forever is udon with duck, it is not spicy at all, but thrill-seekers also have something to taste. Rice is also okay here, but the snacks are somehow mediocre. The price of a huge bowl of udon is 33-50 yuan.

Korean BQQ

If you like meat, then look for a Korean BBQ nearby. A grill is built into each table, and an extractor hood is above it. Appetizers are brought to you and you order raw meat, most often pork. Then you put it on the grill and turn it over, at the very end cut it into pieces with special scissors, wrap it in a lettuce leaf and throw everything you like from snacks. So delicious. For a plate with three weighty pieces of meat (enough to eat alone), you will have to pay about 40 yuan, sometimes there is an "unlimited" - the meat is brought to you until you burst, 80-100 yuan per person.

Co. Cheese Melt Bar

If you ever get tired of Chinese food and pungent smells, this lovely little place in a French concession will delight you with simply incredibly delicious fried sandwiches. This is a well-deserved first place among Shanghai's snack bars. A standard sandwich costs 50 yuan, the same amount for a glass of delicious cider. There are about 25 types of cooking variations in total - the fifth number from the menu is my favorite.

What to read before the trip?

A lot of things can shock an unprepared tourist after arriving in China. Here is a small list of literature that will allow you to explain the strangest things to yourself.

• Marina Kravtsova "History of Chinese Culture", 2004

This textbook, aimed at a completely unprepared reader, is where you should start your acquaintance with ancient Chinese culture - it connects with a thin thread the traditions and spiritual values ​​​​of the Chinese from ancient times to the present day, forming a fairly complete picture of the development of Chinese culture.

• Marcel Granet "Chinese Civilization", 2016

This book by the French Orientalist is considered one of the fundamental works in Sinology. The author vividly describes various aspects of public and private life in ancient China, as well as the way of life of people: work, family and marriage relations, food, clothing, rituals, rituals, codes of honor, social hierarchy, covering all aspects of life etiquette. It describes such a traditional China, which every year there is less and less.

• Evan Oznos, Age of Ambition. Wealth, Truth and Faith in the New China", 2015

And now to what China is today. This is a book by an American journalist who for some reason very often meets with Chinese dissidents;) The book is suitable for those who want to understand real life China and get away from most stereotypes, and understand why many modern Chinese women prefer to “cry in the back seat of a BMW, rather than smile on a bicycle”

• William A. Callahan "China Dreams: 20 Visions of the Future", 2013

The book is somewhat similar to the previous one, but here the author turns to the ways of China's development, shows how the younger generation questions the model adopted by the leadership economic development and the struggle between Confucian traditions and Western democracy.

• Wang Zhicheng "History of Russian emigration in Shanghai"

A book about the phenomenon called "Russian Shanghai": stories about the political, social and cultural life of Russians in Shanghai. The author analyzed the periodicals of the 1920s-40s and presented a comprehensive monograph to the world back in 1993, despite the fact that it was translated into Russian only in 2009, the book retains its historiographical significance.

• The project of the online publication "Magazeta" and Katya Knyazeva, the author of the book Shanghai Old Town: Topography of a Phantom City about the iconic buildings of Shanghai.

This is a very large and original guide to Shanghai, which allows you to trace the past of the city, walking along its streets. If you have a lot of time in this city, and my modest guide is not at all exhaustive, this is a must-read.

Text: Diana Filina

Travel, shoot and send your guides to, and if they are cool, we will contact you.

If you take the high speed train central station Beijing (the size of a good European airport), drive through half the country for five and a half hours through a haze of not the most environmentally friendly kind that evenly covers it, then in the final you feel relieved. Not because there are any problems with Chinese high-speed trains, but simply because it is much easier to breathe in Shanghai: a large port in the Yangtze Delta, where Huangpu merges with Suzhou, the East China Sea is very close and, despite the subtropics and almost monsoons, there is much more air than in flat open Beijing. At least it's more breathable.

It is precisely this - free breathing - that could be made a metaphor for any trip here, but, avoiding cliches and literature, we will only say that this closely built-up and densely populated city seems a little more understandable and alive to the Western gaze than Beijing with its wide avenues and huge squares, such, however, as native to anyone born in the former USSR. In general, coming here from Beijing is a good idea, like any fresh contrast.

Bvlgari Hotel

Both there and there - both in Beijing and Shanghai - there is a Bvlgari hotel, and in Shanghai it opened just a few weeks ago, and they differ in much the same way as these cities, while maintaining the overall design and style invented by Antonio Citterio and Patricia Vail. If in Beijing everything is on the ground - a garden, a restaurant, a terrace, a bar, then in Shanghai everything is in the air - Niko Romito's restaurant Il Restorante, Il Bar on the 47th floor and the highest, with the most enchanting view of La Terrazza actually on the roof. This is all, of course, Italian - and Niko Romito managed to arrange in China one of the best Italian cuisines that can be, where even flour for bread is brought from Italy. And the view from the local La Terrazza to Pudong with skyscrapers and the river with boats and barges is the most postcard, the most canonical and the best in the city.

There is also a restaurant on the ground: in addition to the newly built 48-storey tower, Bvlgari has restored the old building of the Chamber of Commerce, which stands on the territory of the hotel with a garden around, an alley and a classical-style entrance arch made based on the Roman arch of Constantine. They arranged a ballroom and open a gastronomic restaurant of Chinese cuisine - Bao Li Xuan.

Historic Center and Bund

Here, in principle, you can live without going outside, but if you do go out, you find yourself right in the Bund, the main historical district of Shanghai. You can just walk along it, and wild-style skyscrapers and shopping streets with all the main international boutiques will be replaced by quarters of the 20s and 30s, similar at once to birdhouses and our Khrushchev houses, but in the Bauhaus style, with small shops downstairs and clusters of air-conditioners upstairs, which, the locals say, are absolutely impossible to live in, but which are the real Shanghai. They have been actively demolished over the past 20 years and continue to be demolished and built up with offices and hotels, although they promise to preserve something for reasons of historical importance (but rather for commercial gain, so that there is something to show tourists as authentic Shanghai).

The embankment opposite Pudong - with an excellent promenade, where literally every tourist who comes here is photographed - is built up with strict beautiful buildings in the New York Art Deco style, and architecturally in general, Shanghai does not let the Western eye get bored. To admire, to be horrified, to rejoice or to be sad - as much as you like, but never get bored. A place where you can have lunch on the way is the Lost Heaven restaurant, not boring and moderately exotic for the stomach of a Westerner.

Block M50,
old town and French Concession area

Of course, in Shanghai you have to go to the M50 art quarter, where there are thousands of galleries - and the idea of ​​going around at least half at a time should be abandoned immediately. New Chinese art, which the West is now so passionate about, has spread just from Shanghai, and here you can still find new and not yet insanely expensive artists. Of course, you need to drive to the old city and go to the Yu Yuan Garden, Yu Garden, an exemplary Chinese garden, one of the most famous in the city. And, of course, you need to get into the French Concession, one of the most bohemian, classy, ​​colorful areas of Shanghai, where the French used to live, and now there are fashion galleries and the most interesting shops.

Jujajao village

But, if, nevertheless, it becomes crowded and stuffy in this dampness and generally tires Big city, there is where to get out. For example, in the village on the water Dzhudzhadzhao (Zhujiajiao). In fact, this is a small city, it takes about an hour to get to it from the center, and the guides call it " Chinese Venice". It looks like Venice except for the central bridge, in which, however, you can guess the outlines of Rialto, but the city really stands on the river and canals along which you can sail by boat, and it is really quite historical and practically not rebuilt. At its very beginning, a contemplatively beautiful Chinese garden, owned by an important local merchant, designed and built for his family, with all the streams, bridges, rocks, pavilions and views from medieval Chinese scrolls, from different points - different.

While sailing on a boat, you see how locals they rinse their clothes in water - and you decide to eat somewhere else, but it looks very picturesque. Then you walk along the narrow streets, in a crowd, mostly from locals (this is an important point of domestic tourism, there are few Western people here), past shops selling everything in the world: from pearls to hearts, horns and hooves on skewers (the Chinese eat everything possible offal) - and this is exactly the dose of exotic that a white person needs. After driving a little, you find yourself in the area of ​​expensive villas, where wealthy Shanghainese live, and you can eat by stopping along the way at the AhnLuh hotel-resort, stylistically completely opposite to Bvlgari. The gate of the 16th century at the entrance, specially brought here, a low gray stone ideally inscribed in the landscape, inside there is a large hall with an authentic interior of the 17th century, as in a good historical film about medieval China, also entirely with wooden columns and a carved gallery around the entire perimeter, brought here by an antique dealer along with a gate. A specific Chinese way to preserve historical heritage.

Chocolate shop in Shanghai

When you return to Shanghai, stop by Il Cioccolato, a small chocolate shop at the Bvlgari Hotel, where they make and sell exceptional quality and handmade chocolate, of course - after garlands of all kinds of fried legs, it is the taste of chocolate that helps to restore peace of mind. Well, bringing home excellent Italian chocolate from Shanghai is just an idea that is far from all possible clichés.